Knicks, Clippers seeking third team to facilitate Carmelo Anthony trade, according to reports

Carmelo Anthony has a no-trade clause in hic contract but the Knicks are looking to find a deal that may entice him to waive the clause. AP

THE New York Knicks and LA Clippers are reportedly seeking a third team to facilitate a possible trade for Carmelo Anthony.

The Knicks are exploring the possibility of sending Anthony to the Clippers and not necessarily getting any of core players Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan, according to ESPN’s Mark Stein.

Anthony has two years and roughly $53 million remaining on his contract with the Knicks.

“We’re not talking to anyone. People are talking to us… Listen, we love our team. We believe we’re good enough right now. Having said that. My job is to look at this team and see if we can get better. If we can we’ll do it,” said Clippers coach Doc Rivers who is also the head of basketball operations in an interview with ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.

Asked if he would be willing to trade his son, Austin, a guard with the Clippers, Rivers said “we’re going to do whatever it takes.”

“If I would trade anyone you’d have to be willing to do that. He would be one of them or anyone of them. I don’t want to trade any of our guys. I like our team. Having said that if you think you can make your team better, you make your team better. That’s my job,” Rivers pointed out.

New York had proposed a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers for Kevin Love but the champions declined.

The Boston Celtics have also expressed no interest, but the Knicks continue to seek a taker for Anthony, who would have to agree to waive the no-trade clause in his contract.

Among the potential trade pieces are Austin Rivers, J.J. Redick and Jamal Crawford.

Sources added the Knicks ‎are not willing to take 36-year old Crawford and his remaining three-year contract worth $42 million.

The Clippers, on the other hand, are hesitant to give up one of their best shooters in Redick, according to sources.

Another factor to consider is that the Clippers are hard-capped this season, and that the team would find it hard to absorb the 15 percent trade kicker in Anthony's contract that would add nearly $10 million to his 2016-17 season in the event he is traded.